Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
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Exercise #5 - 9/4/06 - Finding Inspiration
I'm taking this exercise straight from TheKid's suggestion because I think it's a really good one. I'm sure going to follow it for the next short story I'll write.
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1. Give yourself one minute (on a computer; two minutes if you're using pen and paper) to write down a list of words. Any words at all. Just put down anything that comes to mind during that time, and don't worry about making sentences. In fact, it's better if they're just random words. Also, don't erase or delete anything, not even spelling errors. If at all possible, you should even write this list with your eyes closed!
2. When you're finished, you should have a nice long list of words. Pick any one of them that now stands out to you.
3. Use the word you chose in three different sentences. Don't even try to connect them; they should be as different in tone and intent as you can make them.
4. Of the three, choose the one that looks the most interesting to you and, using your intuition, expand it into a full paragraph. Do not erase or delete any words, and try not to edit yourself. Just let the ideas flow forth.
5. You should now have a seed you can nurture into a nice litle short story, or maybe something even longer.
Good luck! 8^)
Last edited by Firlefanz, 8/4/2007, 7:55 am
--- - Firlefanz
Reading: "Lirael" by Garth Nix
Writing: Rewrite of the Unicorn Girl YA novel
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9/4/2006, 12:34 pm
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Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Location: Germany
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Re: Exercise #5 - 9/4/06
1) List of words:
warm
friendly
knight
armour
sun
sword
horse
unicorn
adventure
fight
gold
autumn
pen
tissue
ring
lost
bowl
water
2) I choose bowl.
3)
The witch looked into the bowl of blood and cackled evilly.
The water in the bowl rippled just a little, announcing a vistor.
The silver bowl rolled down from the heap of plunder and came to rest at his feet.
4)
Everything was quiet, it was always quiet. Jonathan was deaf, after all. Even so, he had his way of dealing with things. For example, there was always a bowl of water on his desk. Just now, the water in the bowl rippled a little, announcing the footsteps of a visitor. Jonathan turned around to face him.
5)
Hmmm. A story about a deaf hero and all the magic and gimmics he uses... kind of neat. It just lacks a plot now.
--- - Firlefanz
Reading: "Seide und Schwert" by Kai Mayer
Writing: Rewrite of the Unicorn Girl YA novel
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9/12/2006, 2:11 pm
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TheKid965
Knight of Honor
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Registered: 07-2006
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Re: Exercise #5 - 9/4/06
And now, taking my own suggestion to heart...
radio
book
statuette
figurine
pill
pencil
mug
microphone
screaming
movies
bumper
sticker
logo
computer
smoking
milk
sudoku
screwdriver
Of these words, I choose, somewhat arbitrarily, "radio."
1. The radio blared loud, obnoxious music when I entered the room.
2. We tried to raise them on the radio, but got no response.
3. Through the static on the radio, he could almost hear a female voice.
And I think #3 is the most interesting, so...
Having become lost in the deep woods, he couldn't even be sure what state he was in anymore. As he navigated his car on the pockmarked, abandoned strip of dirt road, he flipped on the radio, just to see what, if any, town was nearby. No matter what frequency he tuned to, though, he ended up with nothing but static... until he reached the high end of the dial. Then, through the static, he could almost make out a faint female voice, straining to be heard amidst the white noise. It seemed to be saying, simply, "Help me..."
A bit disjointed, but there's something for you to consider. Haunted forest in the midst of rural America, perhaps? Or someone trying to reach our hero from across a spatial divide? I wonder...
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9/13/2006, 1:48 pm
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hadaad
NaNo Winner
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Re: Exercise #5 - 9/4/06
1. persuasion
count
fry
lead
belly
better
friend
bear
helicopter
choice
made
maid
milk
house
coat
housecoat
ideal
idea
idealist
branches
trees
binary
comp7uter
friend
friendship
tasty
freezie
car
copper
mine
mind
titanium
berilium
beryl
pencil
lead
make
maker
paul
pound
stone
artifact
artefact
malkier
throne
ice cream
ripple
triple
triscuit
mope
moat
castle
down
druid
soprano
mezzo-soprano
murder
mystery
suit
tie
purple
picture
everest
michael
tones
music
windmill
quixotic
sword
pnocho
donkey
mule
burro
barrio
neighborhood
2. housecoat
3. Dressed in only a housecoat, the intrepid knight Erdrian charged after the prowler, brandishing the handle-end of a broom as he would his broadsword.
The affair that marked the love of my life came to a somewhat uninspired and anti-climactic end with the two of us fighting over custody of a housecoat.
The image I will always carry with me to this day is the way my father was buried - the same way he'd lived out the last fifteen years of his life - in a tee-shirt, boxer shorts and a housecoat.
4. The affair that marked the love of my life came to a somewhat uninspired and anti-climactic end with the two of us fighting over custody of a housecoat. I wish it had been as simple as it sounds but then, it rarely is. The robe in question was not really the point of the argument, but really, subject, object, what difference does it make? We loved each other, stopped loving each other, and poured all that we wanted to say, all the hurt, humiliation, vulnerability and all the other stuff that goes into a relationship into a bundle of fabric that, to be honest, we both wore.
5. I'm sure that this story has been written before, and the thought of basing a break-up story or a getting-back-together story or something like that on a housecoat is pretty preposterous but it is what was going through my head at the time. I probably won't develop it, but this is a neat idea. I'll try it again for sure. Inspiration ideas are awesome.
---
Reading: Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
Writing: Resurrection edits
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9/19/2006, 3:23 am
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BardNoir
Journeyman
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Registered: 10-2006
Location: Houston, TX
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Re: Exercise #5 - 9/4/06
Two things this exercise has taught me… I think faster than I can type… and what comes to mind when I give it free reign is pretty messed up… ain’t it cool!
1)
Night
Fall
Shadows
Stars
Pain
Blades
Ninja
Fighters
Thieves
Elves
Woods
Forests
Magic
Psychics
Wolves
Hunting
Vines
Thorns
Flesh
Blood
Ripping
Leather
Spikes
Darkness
Hiding
Stairs
Wood
Saw
Trapped
Escape
Running
Wolves
Teeth
Claws
Dragons
Gold
Fire
Metal
Wood
Earth
Air
Feng Shui
Kung Fu
2) I see the words Wood and Wolves came up twice… so those both jump out at me, but I think I like the concept of Wolves more than just wood… though I’m tempted to take wood just because- forget it. Wolves it is.
3a) The wolves entered the clearing as the hunt reached a turning point that required regrouping.
3b) Derrick fell against the tree, blood dripping from the arrow still lodged in his shoulder and the ominous sound of the wolves growing ominously closer.
3c) As the wolves encircled her, the princess merely closed her eyes and reached out with her mind hoping to calm the pack of beasts before the could rip her to shreds.
4) Aeris was wounded and tired, her bare feet ached from walking and her body weak with pain. Even in a perfect state Aeris would not have any hopes of fending off the five wolves physically, and as her legs folded and dropped her to the ground she turned to the only weapon she had left as the wolves encircled her. The princess closed her eyes and reached out with her mind hoping to calm the pack of beasts before they could rip her to shreds. She cursed her new life for now realizing that the trapping of riches and comfort had kept her from sharpening her skills daily, as the Druids had taught her. It was an oversight that could well cost her, her life.
5) Yeah… that worked quite well. Not sure if I will develop this into a story, but it is an interesting way to get one out. Honestly, I come from a more contemporary or post modern, school of thought so this story idea is very interesting to me and something I wouldn’t mind developing in my spare time. I honestly didn’t even feel like writing a story or have an idea for one before I started this exercise and now I do. That alone is a major result in and of itself.
---
"No story that ever began 'So I was playing a Half-Elf, Chaotic-Neutral, Fighter/Thief/Mage' can ever end well." -The Bard Noir
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10/29/2006, 1:40 pm
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tryingtowrite
Mini-NaNo Winner
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Re: Exercise #5 - 9/4/06
1. dog rat stinky bug heed water grass pencil ant rest flash jump dead fried cast ship trees waste crow kiss thought mom sandy lean plot can flaten cotten clothes mute rare lost bones
2. Hmm Kiss I guess.
3. Trembles slid up her spine as he gave her her first kiss.
The ring of steel on steel foretold the kiss of death.
The first raindrops pressed cool kisses to her face.
4. The first raindrops pressed cool kisses to her face. She shivered, pulling the edges of her cloak closer she bent her head against the wind. The rains came in ernest now soaking her to the skin. She had to get there, had to keep going despite the cold and wetness.
5. I think I've used something similar already.
---
I'm not just staring out the window...I'm working!
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5/3/2007, 1:56 pm
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) or if I don't reach 29 I'll take the third from last...
